The Good News

There is no end to the possibilities of what we, as a church, could do to participate in the love, mercy and kindness of God. There are hundreds of local institutions, charities and ministries that feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the diseased and support those in real need. There are thousands of such groups statewide, nationally and some that even make it their work to help people across the globe. With so much need and so many deserving groups, many churches can become overwhelmed by their options. Instead of cultivating significant partnerships or offering a meaningful amount of support to any one, churches can aimlessly scatter their concern everywhere, which is only better than thoughtlessly offering their concern nowhere at all—except unto themselves.

In church work, we are always working ahead, so this Christmas carol has been in my head for days. I think mostly because the idea of a still and hushed world feels like a dream. It is two weeks before the election, our lives are inundated with political ads that tell us only the worst of the world, and tension lives even among people who are voting for the same people.

At First Lutheran, giving is up 4.5% as compared to last year at this same time. In-person attendance is up, as compared to last year as well. Recently, two separate large legacy gifts were given (stay tuned for details) that allow us to bring on youth ministry staff as well as new music ministries staff—including a new choir director, Cori Vought-Carey. Cori hopes to lead a September-May senior choir that sings all but one Sunday a month. We’re also able to ask her to create something new: a Youth Choir for 5th–8th graders who will rehearse most weeks and sing in worship once a month.

When I was a new pastor, I had a friend who would always try to find the best possible way to explain someone else’s behavior. She would, as we came to call it, eighth commandment something. It was annoying a good amount of the time, to be perfectly honest.